It’s no wonder there is so much confusion about what baptism really means. Depending on one’s denominational background, its meaning varies widely.
You can’t even trust a dictionary to give you a consistent definition because so much of what appears in dictionaries today, even recent Biblical dictionaries, is a reflection of how the “word is perceived” today. The definitions and descriptions of baptism are drawn from prevailing practices and views based on traditions. That’s not surprising, the meaning of words change over time, especially in the english language.
Take a look at the following text from a popular internet resource and see for yourself how baptism has acquired many meanings over the ages:
Baptism is performing ablutions, or ritual washing; it is for the majority the rite of admission, almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition [denomination]. Baptism has been called a sacrament and an ordinance of Jesus Christ.
In some traditions, baptism is also called christening, but for others the word "christening" is reserved for the baptism of infants.
The New Testament reports that Jesus himself was baptized. The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the candidate to be immersed totally (submersion) or partially (standing or kneeling in water while water was poured on him or her). While John the Baptist's use of a deep river for his baptism suggests immersion, pictorial and archaeological evidence of Christian baptism from the 3rd century onward indicates that the normal form was to have the candidate stand in water while water was poured over the upper body. Other common forms of baptism now in use include pouring water three times on the forehead.
Martyrdom was identified early in Church history as "baptism by blood", enabling martyrs who had not been baptized by water to be saved. Later, the Catholic Church identified a baptism of desire, by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved. As evidenced also in the common Christian practice of infant baptism, baptism was universally seen by Christians as in some sense necessary for salvation, until Huldrych Zwingli in the 16th century denied the necessity baptism altogether.
Today, some Christians, particularly Quakers and the Salvation Army, do not see baptism as necessary, and do not practice the rite in any form. Among those that do, differences can be found in the manner and mode of baptizing and in the understanding of the significance of the rite. Most Christians baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (following the Great Commission), but some baptize in Jesus' name only. Most Christian traditions baptize infants; many others hold that only believer’s baptism is true baptism. Some insist on submersion or at least partial immersion of the person who is baptized, others consider that any form of washing by water, as long as the water flows on the head, is sufficient.
"Baptism" has also been used to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which a person is initiated, purified, or given a name. (Selected highlights on topic “Baptism” from Wikipedia, the free Internet Encyclopedia–2011)
Here’s another variation from a highly respected and trusted information resource:
BAPTIZE, Baptism: To administer the sacrament of baptism to a person; to christen. By some denominations of Christians, baptism is performed by plunging, or immersing the whole body in water, and this is done to none but adults. More generally the ceremony is performed by sprinkling water on the face of a person, whether an infant or an adult, and in the case of an infant, by giving him a name, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which is called Christening. (Webster’s Dictionary)
Okay, that’s how many common secular resources describes baptism. What about Bible dictionaries, such as Strong’s Greek Dictionary?
Here’s commentary on the word ‘baptize’ as found in Strong’s Greek Dictionary: The word ‘baptize’ is a Greek word that has been transliterated into the English language. The English language did not have a word for the Greek word ‘baptize’ so the Greek word was borrowed and put into the English language, retaining its Greek definition. In other words, the translators taught us a Greek word and the Greek words meaning. Being transliterated from Greek to English the words ‘baptize’ and ‘baptized’ in EVERY case in Scripture means to ‘immerse’ or ‘submerge’... ‘cover wholly with fluid’ [water]. (Strong’s Greek Dictionary)
Do you see the problem? Alternate meanings based on tradition have been attached to the words ‘baptize’ and ‘baptism’. So to use a common English dictionary for the definition will not give as precise a meaning as the Greek dictionary does. What’s important... is that we know the word ‘baptize’ as used in English is very often not the same as it is used in the original Greek language.
So if immersion is the true Biblical mode of baptism, then it stands to reason that there must be more to its meaning than simply submerging a person below the surface of water. The answer is yes and there is ample Biblical evidence to support and explain the true meaning of baptism.
First, Biblical baptism requires coming to the water, going down into it, and coming up out of it. None of these important steps are involved in sprinkling or pouring, but genuine “God approved” immersion requires all of them. (See these passages: Acts 8: 36-39; Acts 10: 47,48; Mark 1:9,10; John 3:23)
There is a reason. Baptism is a symbol of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Those who submit to Biblical baptism are experiencing a unique binding, albeit symbolic, with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:12 says “we” are buried with Him in baptism and by that [going under the water -completely immersed] ”we” are then raised with Him [as rising to a new life, symbolic of His resurrection]. In baptism we are buried with Jesus and raised with Him. As He was buried in the earth, so we are symbolically buried in baptism.
Are people symbolically buried and raised in sprinkling or pouring? When Jesus was buried, did they sprinkle a little dirt on Him, like folks do in sprinkling or pouring? No. Matthew 12:40 says He was buried in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 27: 60, 66 says He was laid in a tomb hewn out of rock and a great stone covered the opening. He was completely enclosed in the element. In baptism we are buried (completely enclosed and surrounded) in water, as Jesus was buried in the earth.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:4 says We are buried with Him by baptism. Some will argue that if baptism is "just a symbol" of Jesus' burial, it doesn’t really matter how it is done. Paul clearly establishes the symbolic element in baptism. but that does not give humans license to deviate from what the Bible teaches nor does it prove that the action as prescribed by God does not matter. That should eliminate the “it doesn’t really matter” argue entirely. Remember the character and nature of who God is... He is exacting and precise in all His commands. Our love for Him... trust of Him and faith in Him should compel us to simply be obedient to all that He commands us to do.
The passages say Jesus was buried and raised. If the Bible is to be valid as our only true “authority” then it very much matters how we are baptized and for what purpose. It says we are buried and we are raised in baptism. The one to be baptized must be buried and raised. When denominations sprinkle or pour, the person is not buried or raised. Only by immersion is a person buried and raised, thereby meeting the Biblical requirement for baptism.
Symbols are important to God. When God ordains actions and gives them to us through His Holy Word as commands, even if they involve symbolism, we must respect the act as God commanded it, instead of changing it. Baptism involves a burial and a resurrection like Jesus' burial and resurrection. Immersion fits both God's command and the symbolism He ordained. How can sprinkling or pouring symbolize a burial and a resurrection? The answer is obvious... they can’t.
What does it all mean? In baptism, a cleansing takes place.
Hebrews 10:22 says this... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Note the contrast between the sprinkling of the heart and the washing of the body. In the New Testament, the blood of Jesus is sprinkled on our hearts to cleanse us from sin. This of course is symbolic and spiritual, since it cannot be physical. [Hebrews 9:14]
The body, the whole person is affected in baptism. Baptism involves both an inner meaning and an outer action. In baptism the heart is cleansed of sin when the body is immersed [covered over] in baptism.
Denominations that sprinkle or pour water on the head are not baptizing people according to Biblical instruction. Immersion fits the Bible descriptions of baptism. Sprinkling and pouring do not fit.
No other form or action is acceptable to God. Sprinkling and pouring are human in origin. They are modifications to God's plan for salvation. Only complete immersion can be practiced according to Jesus' authority.
Here’s the hard reality that many must confront.... God approved, God accepted Gospel baptism is immersion, not sprinkling or pouring. If you have not been immersed, then you have not obeyed Jesus' command. You have followed only the doctrines of men.
If you wish to obey Jesus, you must do what He said to do... be baptized (immersed) as described in the passages sited in this article and previous ones. It requires a change in your attitude, faith in God, confession from your heart how you wish to live your life henceforth. He who believes and is baptized will be saved - Mark 16:16.
NEXT ARTICLE... I’m going to share with you why we have such a hard time accepting the plain truth of Scripture.
